Author: Melanie Sullivan

“Johnny’s Pheasant” written by Cheryl Minnema and illustrated by Julie Flett is a story inspired by the author’s younger brother Johnny and her grandmother. In the story, the two characters happen upon a pheasant lying in the grass. Grandma and Johnny have two very different reactions to the pheasant which leads to a surprise at the… Continue reading Johnny’s Pheasant

“When the music started, I tried dances I’d never seen, and games I didn’t know. You want to meet Danbi! Danbi is a little girl, new to her school, and new to the country. She's nervous and isn't sure what's expected of her. But, “When the music started, she tried dances she’d never seen, and… Continue reading Danbi Leads the School Parade

How do we keep kindergarteners engaged in text each day in a remote learning environment? How do we keep kindergarteners coming back for more when there are many other things to distract them around their home? Shared reading! Last spring I posted some of the shared reading videos I had created. Today I'd like to… Continue reading Shared Reading Videos

My child won't write! He won't pick up a pencil, no matter how much I demand, cajole, threaten or beg...." Is this what you hear from families who are trying to facilitate remote learning at home? That has been one of the biggest complaints from families at my school. It makes me so sad to… Continue reading Writers’ Workshop at Home: Support for Families

Are you looking for a fun, meaningful off-line activity for your kindergarten students? Do you want to build your kindergarteners phonemic awareness? Use these one minute videos, or make your own, to send your students on a search for items in their home that begin with a particular sound. Children will be invited to: Find… Continue reading Sound Scavenger Hunt!

Have you checked out Jamboard? It's a Google App that can be very helpful as you teach small groups. Each child can be on their own slide working independently and you can toggle back and forth to see how each child is doing. You don't even need to share your screen! In this video, you… Continue reading Jamboard on Zoom with Small Groups!

How do we keep kindergarteners engaged in text each day in a remote learning environment? How do we keep kindergarteners coming back for more when there are many other things to distract them around their home? Shared reading! Click below to access videos of shared readings based on nursery rhymes and fun songs! You'll have… Continue reading Shared Reading: Kindergarteners Engage in Text at Home

Unite for Literacy "pictures a world where all children have access to an abundance of books that celebrate their languages and cultures and cultivate a lifelong love of reading." Check out this amazing online resource for primary readers! It is filled with many nonfiction books that will appeal to young readers. Children can read the… Continue reading Unite for Literacy

I’ve got my pencil,  I’ve got my paints, I’ve got my dreams.  I am a writer, a creator, A game changer, A wall changer. In their book, Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community, author, Susan Verde and illustrator, John Parra create a story that shows the power of art, and the power of… Continue reading Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community